COUGAR PRIDE IS ALIVE! TM Join Cougar Pride, the Booster Club of Caldwell College Athletics Cougar Pride provides Cougar fans an opportunity to get involved and play an active role in supporting all 11 intercollegiate sports at Caldwell College. All of the financial support generated by Cougar Pride will be used to enhance the athletics programs at Caldwell College as determined by the Cougar Pride Executive Board. Some examples include: • To generate new athletics scholarships. • To increase our commitment to a degree completion program for student-athletes who have finished their athletic eligibility. • To provide the College’s coaches with the opportunity to recruit talented student-athletes. • To create increased visibility and exposure of the College’s athletic department. • To enhance the student-athlete’s college experience. • To play a role in the establishment of a Caldwell College Hall of Fame. • To renew and nurture the relationship with our student-athlete alumni. Cougar Pride members will be eligible to receive Caldwell College athletic gear, admission to athletic events and special events, updates on Cougar Athletics via e-mail, and more. For more information, contact Caldwell College Athletics at 973-618-3260, or visit our Web site: info.caldwell.edu/athletics COMMUNITY ® CHARACTER ® COMMITMENT BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE 2008-2009 Dear Cougar Fans: 2008-2009 Caldwell College I am delighted to present our 2008-2009 Basketball Quick Facts Media Guide, which highlights our ongoing commitment to intercollegiate athletics. We are proud General of the continued growth in our athletic programs and Address: 120 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, NJ of our scholar athletes, whose graduation rate is Founded: 1939 impressive. They have achieved standards of academic Enrollment: 1,031 excellence, as well as athletic success, and demonstrate Nickname: Cougars that at Caldwell College our first priority is a quality Colors: Scarlet, White and Gold higher education. Affiliations: NCAA Division II, ECAC Conference: Central Atlantic Collegiate As many of you know, this is my final year as the Conference (CACC) President of Caldwell College. When asked to write Web site: www.caldwell.edu my annual letter for this publication, I found myself Home Arena: reflecting on all of the experiences I’ve had following George R. Newman Center (1,800) our athletic programs over the past 15 years. Some of the memories are inspiring, some are humorous, and Administration others are heartbreaking. But what I will remember most is the pride I’ve taken in seeing how our young President: Sister Patrice Werner, O.P., Ph.D. men and women have represented themselves and the College, both in their athletic endeavors and in VP of Student Life: Sister Elaine Keenan, O.P. the classroom. Executive Director of Athletics: Mark A. Corino There have been many positive changes in the Athletic Department at Caldwell College during the past Associate Athletic Director/ 15 years. Can you believe we had only six intercollegiate athletic programs in 1994 compared to the 11 Compliance Officer: Dean Johnson programs in the Athletic Department today? The transition to become a member of the NCAA Division Assistant Athletic Director/ II began in 1998 and was completed in 2002. The George R. Newman Recreation and Athletic Center, Senior Women’s Administrator: which officially opened in June of 2002, has been the scene of many thrilling events as the home of the Linda Cimino Cougar basketball and volleyball teams. Our outstanding coaching staff, which has been recognized for Administrative Assistant: Jean Martin its success on the playing fields, has brought student-athletes from around the nation and the world to Athletic Trainers: Saori Ishikawa, Caldwell College. Paul Winkler Athletic Phone Number: (973) 618-3260 Watching our Cougar teams play is something I always enjoyed. What stands out the most is the range Athletic Fax Number: (973) 618-3370 of emotions the contests evoke, from triumph to despair and back again. In 2004 our softball team made us proud by winning the regional and advancing to the NCAA Women’s College World Series, where the Coaches Directory team received a special award for having the highest team grade-point average in the tournament. Equally Baseball: Jay Messina memorable was the sadness on the players’ faces when the Cougars were eliminated on a controversial Men’s Basketball: Mark A. Corino play. I remember the NCAA men’s basketball regional in 2007, when the Cougars came so close to Women’s Basketball: Linda Cimino victory despite being huge underdogs to the second-ranked team in the nation. Through success and Cross Country: John Tosato adversity, our student-athletes never failed to comport themselves with dignity and class, and that makes Golf: Mike Andrusin me proud to have these young men and women representing our College. Men’s Soccer: Jamie Nash Women’s Soccer: Nate Guagliardi Lastly, I am fortunate to have been given six rings that represent the various championships our teams Softball: Dean Johnson have won through the years. I certainly will continue to cherish them as symbols of success and great Men’s & Women’s Tennis: Michael Lukacs memories. But remember, the year is not over. There is still time to add to my collection! Volleyball: Megan Hrbek Sports Information Office Sister Patrice Werner, O.P, Ph.D. Director of Sports Information: President Matt McLagan Phone: (973) 618-3567 Fax: (973) 618-3370 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://info.caldwell.edu/athletics 1 MEN’S BASKETBALL 2008-2009 2008-2009 PREVIEW Caldwell. “This group has exhibited a willingness Another trio of returnees has a chance to move to listen and work hard. They have been willing into the regular rotation after seeing limited to make the necessary commitment to work action in previous seasons. Junior guard John together and approach the journey together.” Reed has demonstrated the ability to shoot from long-range, but he could earn a more prominent With the loss of four key players, leadership is a role in the Cougars’ back court. Junior forward concern, especially with a number of young Matt Cohen did not see much playing time as a players joining the team. Last year’s seniors sophomore but he has the athleticism and formed the team’s nucleus for more than two shooting touch to contribute. Sophomore guard seasons, with the younger players filling Dante Rollins is a quick off-guard who will ease secondary roles. This year Corino expects that his the loss of three starters in the back court. three seniors will assume leadership roles for the first time in their careers. “Our role players need to step up from a reserve role in the past to an important one this season,” Although there are a lot of unknowns with this Corino said. “The opportunity is there for them, year’s team, one thing Corino can count on is the and we need them to contribute.” performance of senior forward Manny Perez, who bounced back with a solid season after missing Two players who have been battling injuries are the 2006-07 campaign with an injury.A three- junior forwards Sam Cricelli and Tyler Emmons. time all-CACC second team selection who Cricelli has been one of the Cougars’ most Manny Perez averaged team highs of 14.4 points and 6.4 versatile players, but he missed 14 games last rebounds per game as a junior,Perez enters his season due to injury. Emmons, who averaged 3.7 final season with 1,370 career points to rank sixth points in his first season at Caldwell after What a difference a year makes. Entering the on Caldwell’s all-time scoring list. As the Cougars’ transferring, suffered an injury at the end of last season a year ago, the Caldwell College men’s most experienced player,Perez figures to receive a season and is unsure when he will be able to play basketball team had high hopes, with 10 players lot of attention from opponents. this season. back from the 2007 team that won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament and “Manny has been the focus of other teams since A pair of transfers from Division I schools figures advanced to the NCAA Northeast Regional. After he’s been here, and he’s handled it well,” Corino to be featured in the Cougars’ back court this falling short of expectations and struggling said. “We need to shoot the ball better from the season. Junior Eddie Crockett, who came to through a 12-17 campaign last year, the Cougars perimeter and have better perimeter play to take Caldwell from Nicholls State in 2007, started 13 prepare for the 2008-2009 season with a much some pressure off of Manny. He wasn’t himself as games at point guard for the Cougars last season less experienced squad. Four players who a player last year after sitting out a season with and averaged 4.8 points. Junior guard Jason averaged at least 23 minutes a game have injuries, but we think he can return to being one Wilson is a strong and talented player who graduated, while six newcomers, including five of the top players in the league.” attended Quinnipiac University for two years freshmen, join a group of returnees with just one before coming to Caldwell. Both players provide player who started more than half of the team’s The other two seniors on the team, guard Carl athleticism and scoring ability to the Cougars’ games a year ago. Augustin and center Michael Luzzi, have been perimeter game. role players during their careers but will be asked But with a significant turnover in personnel to be leaders and contributors on this year’s “Jason is a Division I player ability-wise,” Corino comes opportunity.